Meister der Farbe » lorado.Cubs: Second-year slugger Kris Bryan

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Minnesota Vikings keep finding ways to overcome injuries -and keep finding ways to win football games.Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph, Marcus Sherels returned a punt for a score and the Vikings snapped the Carolina Panthers 14-game home winning streak 22-10 on Sunday.The Vikings put the clamps on Cam Newton, intercepting the leagues reigning MVP three times and getting eight sacks, one of those resulting in a safety by Danielle Hunter. The eight sacks were the second-most ever against Newton.We have a great team -- the best team I have been a part of, said Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen, who had three sacks. We come from every area on the field and we get sacks.Said Newton: They were dictating to us after they got the momentum.The Vikings improved 3-0 despite losing running back Adrian Peterson and offensive tackle Matt Kalil to injuries last week. They lost starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the preseason.The Panthers were averaging 42 points per game in their last three home games, but could do little after bolting to a 10-0 lead. The Vikings held Carolina wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess without a catch.For him not to have any touches is baffling, Newton said of Benjamin. We have to find ways to get him the ball.Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said the Vikings focus was on shutting down Benjamin.We just knew where Benjamin was the whole time, Munnerlyn said. Funchess, we werent worried about him. It was Kelvin Benjamin. Me personally, I think No. 17 (Funchess) is not that good, so we werent really worried about him.Benjamin said the Vikings pressure on Newton helped take him out of the game.Bradford improved to 2-0 as the Vikings starter, completing 18 of 28 passes for 171 yards. With Peterson injured, Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon combined for 70 yards rushing on 22 carries. Rudolph had seven catches for 70 yards, including a 15-yard TD catch to put the Vikings ahead for good in the early in the third quarter.HOME LOSS: It was Carolinas first home loss since Nov. 16, 2014.If you want to be a playoff team you have to win at home, Panthers offensive tackle Michael Oher said.Carolina only led 10-8 at halftime despite outgaining the Vikings 205-34 in the first half and limiting Minnesota to two first downs.PROTESTS OUTSIDE: Outside the stadium about 100 people gathered before the game to stage a peaceful protest over the police shooting of a 43-year-old black man last week.Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the events didnt affect the teams play.When we are here, we practice, we do the things we are supposed to do. We got out and we answered the questions, Rivera said. What happened here was very tragic, and what we were hoping to do was be able to come out and put that aside. We just didnt play very well. I am not looking for excuses.BY THE NUMBERS:Vikings: Asiata got the start at running back but McKinnon was more productive back with 45 yards on 16 carries.Panthers: Cameron Artis-Payne started over Fozzy Whittaker with Jonathan Stewart (hamstring) out of the lineup and ran for 47 yards on 12 carries. Whittaker only got five carries and had 22 yards rushing after running for 100 yards last week against San Francisco.SAFETY FIRST: Hunter beat Michael Oher to sack Newton in the end zone in the first quarter for Minnesotas first safety since Jared Allen had one on Dec. 4, 2011. Hunter has 6 1/2 sacks in his last seven games.SHERELS RETURN: Sherels accounted for the Vikings only touchdown of the first half, taking an Andy Lee punt near midfield and cutting across the grain for a 54-yard touchdown return.BENJAMINS BLUNDERS: Benjamin was called for two penalties in the first half, including a block in the back that nullified a 56-yard TD reception by Whittaker.INJURIES: Panthers first-round draft pick Vernon Butler left the game with a right ankle sprain in the third quarter and did not return.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Hydro Flask Cyber Monday Sale . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. Swell Black Friday Sale . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. http://www.waterbottleblackfriday.com/ . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Swell Cyber Monday Sale . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Hydro Flask Cyber Monday .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Joe Maddons decision to lift a dominant Jason Hammel for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning looked dubious when Miguel Montero struck out and Pedro Strop got into trouble in the seventh.All it took was a big play in the outfield and some 104 mph heat from Aroldis Chapman to give Maddon and the Cubs another win.Hammel threw six scoreless innings, Dexter Fowler had three hits and Chicago beat Miami ace Jose Fernandez and the Marlins 3-2 on Tuesday night for its third straight victory.Today I was a one-pitch pitcher, said Hammel, who allowed four hits and set a career high for wins in a season. I didnt really have a feel for any of the breaking pitches, curveball and the slider, and I didnt throw any changeups. The fastball played well today.Hammel (11-5) extended Chicagos scoreless streak to 24 innings before Strops shaky seventh. Aroldis Chapman hit 104.4 mph on the radar gun in a perfect ninth as the Cubs won for the sixth time in seven games and opened a nine-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central.Were playing really good baseball, Maddon said.Hammel threw 80 pitches before being lifted for a pinch-hitter with the Cubs up 3-0, a move Maddon calls a National League moment. But Montero struck out with two on.We took a shot, it didnt play, Maddon said.Fernandez (12-6) allowed three runs and eight hits over six innings, losing consecutive starts for the first time since his 2013 rookie season.This may sound funny, but I felt strong today, Fernandez said. I was making good pitches. This is a good team.Fowler was his nemesis. He led off the first with a triple and scored on catcher Willson Contreras single. Batting Contreras second worked for Maddon, as Fowler and Contreras had consecutive hits again in the third to produce another run.He was involved in almost everything tonight, Maddon said of Fowler.The center fielder added an RBI single in the fifth off Fernandez, who fanned eight and took over the major league lead with 192 strikeouts.Adeiny Hechavarria and J.T. Realmuto each hit an RBI single in the seventh off Strop, who also committed a throwing error. Travis Wood rreplaced him and Chris Coghlans diving catch of Christian Yelichs looping liner to left field with two on ended the threat.ddddddddddddormer Cubs closer Hector Rondon picked off pinch-runner Dee Gordon from first in a scoreless eighth.Then Chapman entered and used his blazing fastball to strike out one and earn his second save in three tries since being acquired from the Yankees.Its coming out hot, but its easy when you have that kind of guy throwing a fastball straight, Contreras said. Its harder when you have 97 (mph) with sink. But I mean, its unbelievable.ICHIRO UPDATEIchiro Suzuki struck out pinch-hitting for Fernandez in the seventh, leaving him at 2,998 hits. Suzuki is expected to start Wednesdays series finale against RHP John Lackey. Suzukis 37 hits against Lackey are his most off any pitcher.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: 1B Justin Bour (ankle) went 0 for 3 for Triple-A New Orleans was expected to play one more minor league rehab game Wednesday before returning Friday at Colorado.Cubs: Second-year slugger Kris Bryant wasnt in the lineup. It didnt matter who was pitching today as long as he was right-handed, Maddon said. I wanted to give him the day off.IDEAL TRADENot only did new Cubs reliever Joe Smith go from the struggling Los Angeles Angels to a contender, hes now just a short flight or 4 1/2-hour drive from his ailing mother in Cincinnati. Lee Smith, 56, is battling Huntingtons disease, an inherited, fatal disorder that causes cognitive and physical impairment.Its nice, Joe Smith said. Traveling is hard and those flights take a lot out of her.RHP Spencer Patton was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Smith, acquired Monday.PHELPS ON FRIDAYMarlins manager Don Mattingly said RHP David Phelps will move into the rotation and start Friday against the Rockies. Hell replace RHP Colin Rea, who was traded back to San Diego on Monday.UP NEXTMarlins RHP Tom Koehler (8-8, 4.18 ERA) returns from a pectoral injury and faces Lackey (8-7, 3.69) to close the season series. ' ' '